noon. The female seldom rises within gmi-shot of the nest, 

 and if a boat be stationed to intercept her, wiU tack about 

 and alter her course under water, without rising to breathe. 

 These birds leave our broads in winter, especially if the wea- 

 ther is severe, and return with the first glimpse of sunshine in 

 the spring, when they soon pair, and remain on the open 

 water two and two, until the lengthening days incline them 

 to build. Many people suppose that the Grebe can barely 

 fly at all ; on their first arrival in the spring, however, I have 

 known them show nearly as much facility of flight as a wild 

 fowl ; I have seen them, when disturbed on one broad, rise 

 and make their point for another pool two miles distant ; but 

 no sooner do they build a nest, than all their habits change, 

 and they are the most skulking, diving, hiding, creatures pos- 

 sible : indeed, when a pool of water is much overgrown with 

 reeds, you can hardly ever catch sight of them, even if several 

 pairs are breeding around you. In 1833 I knew of five loons' 

 nests upon a reedy pool, where I was in the habit of setting 

 nets and trimmers, and, arguing fi:om probability, there were 

 other nests of which I knew nothing, yet until the young 

 were hatched, I only twice caught sight of a Grebe." 



PODICEPS CORNUTUS. (Lath.) 



Horned Grebe, Sclavonian Grebe. 



The egg of the Sclavonian Grebe, from which the accom- 

 panying drawing is made, was brought home from Iceland by 

 Mr. G. C. Atkinson, and is now in the Newcastle Museum. 

 The nest, from which it was taken, was placed amongst some 

 rushes above the surface of the water; it was formed, like those 

 of the other species, of sedges, reeds, and other water plants ; 

 and contained four eggs of a pure bluish chalky white, having 



